Austintown’s McGlynn makes Eagles’ fan dream a reality

Photo

Angelo Astorga (left) traveled to Philadelphia to see an Eagles game Dec. 27. While there, he was able to meet some of the players, including offensive lineman Mike McGlynn (center) and the team's offensive line coach Juan Castillo.

By JEANNE STARMACK

starmack@vindy.com

You wouldn’t likely find yourself in an argument with 17-year-old Angelo Astorga over who’s best — the Browns or the Steelers.

The Campbell Memorial High School senior will be too busy watching the Philadelphia Eagles to jump into that discussion. An Eagles fan from back in the days when he was a child growing up in New Jersey, he continues to follow his favorite team.

He followed them all the way to Philadelphia Dec. 27, when he watched a game between the Eagles and the Broncos at Lincoln Financial Field. His team beat Denver 30-27.

While in Philadelphia, he and his parents, Juan and Maria Mercado, stayed at the same hotel where many of the players stayed. He had limo service and spending money for sightseeing.

Before the game, he got to go down to the field and meet some of his favorite players. He even got a jersey.

“It was a great experience,” he said last week.

But it was more than that. It was, said Mike McGlynn, an Eagles offensive lineman from Austintown, a celebration of a success story.

When Angelo was 11, he was diagnosed with ALL — acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

He finished his chemotherapy treatments in May — they are “completely done,” he said — “It was a relief it was all over.” Through a small but well-connected grapevine, McGlynn heard about the Eagles fan who’d faced a life-threatening disease and won the battle — “It’s heroic what he went through,” he said.

McGlynn’s father-in-law, Bernie Repasky of Austintown, knows Bruce Stubbs, co-owner of Tiffany’s Bar and Grille in Boardman, who knows Jenifer Moorhead, head of a foundation the bar’s annual golf outing supports.

That foundation is the Jessica Moorhead Foundation for Hope — which Jenifer runs in honor of her 16-year-old daughter, who died of ALL in March 2003.

The foundation benefits area children with blood cancer and disorders.

Its primary emphasis is supporting patients of the Akron Children’s Care Center for Blood and Cancer and their families.

Angelo and Jessica met during treatments at the former Tod Children’s Hospital in Youngstown, then later at Akron Children’s Hospital in Boardman, Jenfier explained.

She knew about Angelo’s devotion to the Eagles. She told Stubbs about it, who told his friend Repasky, who told McGlynn.

The intent, at first, was to ask McGlynn if he could get a signed football for Angelo.

“I said, ‘you know what, I can do much more for him,” said McGlynn, who’s lost some close relatives in the last three years.

“To hear a good success story made me feel good,” he said.

With his own and other donations, including from the Eagles organization, McGlynn flew Angelo and his parents to Philadelphia.

The Eagles organization donated game tickets and got Angelo on the field to meet the players.

“The Eagles stepped up and turned a request for a signed ball into a really grand event,” said Stubbs.

“Everything was great,” said Angelo.